European Styled Sporting Rifles in the US?

[Coues106]

Thanks for everyone's help! I think I'm gonna pivot toward looking for one of those Sauer CL II's, that's exactly what I was after for a newer production Euro gun. I also appreciate all the votes for Husqvarna's and 1903's, if I didn't have a roomful of Mausers and Husky's, I'd have gone that route.

One other note for folks that read this in the future is the Tikka T3 Boar Hunter is another really nice looking piece if you can find one used and replace the stock, I might go that route with a T3x with a Richard's microfit and some aftermarket irons.

 

[steve white]

Your budget will limit your options rather decisively. Due to relatively strict ownership requirements, the European hunting community tends to invest more in fewer rifles than do we. Hence, manufacturers that do not have a large US footprint, target that market with products that are north of your budget.

You might think about an R8 eventually. The wood stocked rifles aren't traditional looking, but neither is a threaded barrel or suppressor. The initial investment is more than you want to spend, but adding calibers later beats the cost of a new rifle.

This is my R8 wearing a 6.5x55 barrel and suppressor (the 6.5 CM essentially duplicates what the Swede has been doing for a century). It is my "backyard" deer rifle. Blaser has discontinued this stock, though it still pops up on the on-line sites.

View attachment 782276

The standard two piece walnut can also be quite good looking. This one is set up as a .300 Win Mag
View attachment 782278

Man, that first picture is ONE GOOD LOOKING BLASER! What was that stock called if I were to pursue finding one?

 

[CJNJ]

FWIW, there's an Austrian Voere rifle in 30-06, classic wood stock on Simpson's website for $550.00.

SKU: Z75211​

 

[odonata]

Since it hadn't been mentioned so far in this thread, another rifle that is close in style to the Steyr CL II is the Sako 85 Bavarian.

In the last couple of years, there's been several Steyr's in 9.3x62 that have been offered for sale in the AH Classifieds for more than the OP's budget price of $2k. There's also been a couple of Sako Bavarians that have been offered for $2k or slightly less. The barrel would still need to be threaded, but one of the rifles offered here for $1,850 had a nice scope on it that could have been sold to make the rifle alone more affordable (click here, here & here for examples). Obviously this isn't a reliable source for these types of rifles: You just have to luck into someone selling something that appeals.

 

[Hedge774]

Have you considered a Ruger African and having the stock done up like a Rigby HS? It wasn't made in Europe, I get that. But they look the part and act the part too!

 

[Muskox]

In the last couple of years, there's been several Steyr's in 9.3x62 that have been offered for sale in the AH Classifieds for more than the OP's budget price of $2k. There's also been a couple of Sako Bavarians that have been offered for $2k or slightly less. The barrel would still need to be threaded, but one of the rifles offered here for $1,850 had a nice scope on it that could have been sold to make the rifle alone more affordable (click here, here & here for examples). Obviously this isn't a reliable source for these types of rifles: You just have to luck into someone selling something that appeals.

For years Steyr pricing in America was reasonable. Now Steyr has decided to push their European pricing down, and their $1000 plastic stocked Classic is now closer to the 2500 Euro price point that it is in Europe.

 

[Muskox]

I have yet to use this 5,6 for hunting, but here it is. About $600 by the time you include shipping, and registration cost here in Germany. Came with about 200 rounds of ammunition. Bought from a retiring hunter in Bavaria on the Czech border.

Just because I love these photos.

This is the office of my favorite hunting cabin.

 

[Coues106]

Great suggestion on @odonata and @Hedge774, those were 2 I've had on my radar for a while, just the lack of factory threading had me curious on what else was out there. I think the ruger safari especially is something they need to make more of and other companies should take note, I've talked with my buddy that does product management at one of the bigger gun companies and begged him to let me help them work up a variant with a trim stock and some irons in the classic calibers but he just doesn't quite get it. This day and age it's just the .338 Alaskan Guide guns that need irons apparently. I was dinking around with AI and think I'll go for dressing up my Tikka T3x with some Remington 700 factory irons and a richard's microfit for now whilst I wait on one of those Sauer's. Thanks again for all your input everyone.

 

[Killingtime]

To be completely honest with you, the most affordable, accurate and classic styled might just a Husqvarna with an FN made '98 Mauser action. Several available in 30-06 out there

I’m adding to this post just so he knows the husky 1640 and 640 are 1:12 twist so as long as you do not need heavy bullets or are going to change the barrel to a 1-10 this will be a great option

 

[Muskox]

No rifle needs iron sights.

I have raked my hand across irons a couple of times and been cut to the bone. Once when I was about 13 on an antelope hunt and then about 20 years ago in Namibia.

Irons will never belong on a plains game rifle for me.

They also look stupid with a silencer.

When I get that 5,6x50 Magnum Steyr barrel shot out, it will have a 204 Ruger barrel on it without sights. I am also going to put another FBT stock on it. Like the one on my Blaser. Though the 250 Euro Sabatti on my Voere 2165 Mauser 98 system 9.3x64 is wonderful as well.

Tradition can eat it!

A friend of mine owns Fine Ballistic Tools in Austria. Here is his new rifle platform.

I own one of his stocks and I am going to buy another one. Here is my R8 with the FBT stock.

Here is his new rifle.

Here is a Steyr LS curent production.

 

[Xpraetor]

The only people buying high end wood stocked rifles are in their 60's or princes named Franz.

I disagree, as I am not anywhere close to "60yrs" old, nor am I "prince", but I do appreciate and do own rifles & shotguns with woodstocks. Also, I am currently shopping to purchase certain bolt action rifles for planned projects. Despite, I will admit my primary hunting rifle(s) & shotgun(s) have synthetic/composite stocks, however that is due to my affliction of being the cause of triple digit depreciation to anything I own. And also why rifle(s) or shotgun(s) I own have field grade wood furniture, not high/ultimate grade.

I wager the preference is 50/50 - wood to synthetic/composite in regards to hunting firearms.

 

[Xpraetor]

View attachment 782362
Model 114 European Classic. Can be ordered with threaded muzzle. Well within your budget and guaranteed accurate.

I've owned Sako, Tikka and Sauer rifles, and they are wonderful hunting guns, but with wood they will likely exceed your budget unless you find one used.

Don't those Savage 114 have a detachable "box mag" ?

I have been given those models a lot of thought, problem is I haven't seen many in my area, much less for sale, nor have I had an opportunity to shoot one.

What caliber is yours?

 

[JPbowhunter]

No rifle needs iron sights.

I have raked my hand across irons a couple of times and been cut to the bone. Once when I was about 13 on an antelope hunt and then about 20 years ago in Namibia.

Irons will never belong on a plains game rifle for me.

They also look stupid with a silencer.

When I get that 5,6x50 Magnum Steyr barrel shot out, it will have a 204 Ruger barrel on it without sights. I am also going to put another FBT stock on it. Like the one on my Blaser. Though the 250 Euro Sabatti on my Voere 2165 Mauser 98 system 9.3x64 is wonderful as well.

Tradition can eat it!

A friend of mine owns Fine Ballistic Tools in Austria. Here is his new rifle platform.

I own one of his stocks and I am going to buy another one. Here is my R8 with the FBT stock. View attachment 783264


Here is his new rifle.

Here is a Steyr LS curent production.

You are speaking for yourself here my friend.

If I hunt Africa someday I would not sully the experience by scoping the hunting rifles I’d take.

 

[Muskox]

I disagree, as I am not anywhere close to "60yrs" old, nor am I "prince", but I do appreciate and do own rifles & shotguns with woodstocks. Also, I am currently shopping to purchase certain bolt action rifles for planned projects. Despite, I will admit my primary hunting rifle(s) & shotgun(s) have synthetic/composite stocks, however that is due to my affliction of being the cause of triple digit depreciation to anything I own. And also why rifle(s) or shotgun(s) I own have field grade wood furniture, not high/ultimate grade.

I wager the preference is 50/50 - wood to synthetic/composite in regards to hunting firearms.

THE ONLY PEOPLE BUYING HIGH END WOOD STOCKED RIFLES ARE 60 YEARS OLD OR NAMED FRANZ.

You just said you were not buying high end wood stocked rifles.

Just regular wood stocked rifles.

I am talking about rifles in the $10,000 plus range.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

S

You are speaking for yourself here my friend.

If I hunt Africa someday I would not sully the experience by scoping the hunting rifles I’d take.

"Someday" when you can finally afford a safari to Africa you may no longer be able to see iron sights well enough to properly place a bullet past fifty yards. We owe it to the animals to harvest them with a minimum of pain and suffering. That is more important than dressing up my safari gun like something that once belonged to a storybook white hunter.

 

[PerH]

Savage and Andchütz made a coop years ago , one to look for .

 

[Xpraetor]

THE ONLY PEOPLE BUYING HIGH END WOOD STOCKED RIFLES ARE 60 YEARS OLD OR NAMED FRANZ.

You just said you were not buying high end wood stocked rifles.

Just regular wood stocked rifles.

I am talking about rifles in the $10,000 plus range.

It seems in my haste to type, I failed to include that my Son is even younger than I and he is looking for a specific "high end" rifle & caliber. He is single and seems to have a better mind for things than I did at his age. And, I failed to convey that, those firearms I have with "field grade" furniture, some were purchased with "high grade" wood, I just removed & replaced with low end wood.

I also mentioned I am looking for "cretain rifles for planned projects" , included in that search are "high end rifles". My criteria, however being very specific, makes it difficult to find what I want.

I still think the market is 50/50. What determines who is purchasing "high end" rifles are those who are willing to pay the $$$$$.

 

[wesheltonj]

I like European guns, but I don't like the cheek style. I prefer the English look cheek piece.

 

[CJNJ]

Shame that some, lacking self-awareness, need to denigrate someone else's choice, in of all things, rifle stocks. To each his own.

 

[skydiver386]

Don't those Savage 114 have a detachable "box mag" ?

I have been given those models a lot of thought, problem is I haven't seen many in my area, much less for sale, nor have I had an opportunity to shoot one.

What caliber is yours?

I ordered mine in 30-06, but they can be built in any short action, long action or magnum caliber. The original 114 European Classic rifles were all long action 270Win, 30-06, 7mmRem mag and 300Win mag.

My rifle has a detachable box magazine, as that is what I prefer. Loading and unloading the old style blind magazine or swinging floor plate magazines are a pain, but they could be built with any magazine type you specify on the order.